As the surrounding crowd dispersed, Jiang Rou quickly pulled Song Qiao aside and urged, "Huo Zhu, ten bets to nine losses! You said you were just testing the waters, how did you suddenly go all in? The odds are 1.8, you'll win 240 million if you win, but lose 300 million if you lose! And this is the Zheng family's territory, who knows if the Third Mistress will play dirty. We can't be so impulsive!"
Jiang Rou's worries were valid. She believed that with such a large sum invested, the Third Mistress would certainly be paying attention. But the Third Mistress owed them a total of 300 million, and Song Qiao had just thrown another 300 million into the bet to get it back? Jiang Rou had never seen anyone try to collect a debt in such a way! Moreover, even if they lost this bet, what would happen if the Third Mistress came out and paid what she owed? Song Qiao was the Huo Zhu, and she had to listen to him! Could she snatch the money from him? At this point, Jiang Rou almost regretted asking Song Qiao for help. She looked at him with a plaintive expression.
Song Qiao had considered these matters, but he was completely unfazed. "In full view of everyone, they wouldn't dare to play dirty! If they insist on reneging, do you think I'll let this Third Mistress swallow my money? Hmph! It would be even simpler then!"
Jiang Rou, having been an opponent of Song Qiao, knew his capabilities all too well. Yet, she still felt uneasy. "But what if you lose the bet? Surely you won't..."
"That won't happen. If I truly lose, I'll admit it." Song Qiao shook his head, then said confidently, "But I won't lose! That black dog has internal flaws, likely from years of fighting and injuries. And it's old! I saw all that long ago! Plus, the yellow dog has sturdier limbs, it's unlikely to lose. Dog fighting isn't like martial arts, where moves are unpredictable. This primitive competition has no surprises!"
Inside a VIP suite within the dog fighting arena, the Third Mistress casually flipped through the betting slips for the current round while lounging on a chaise lounge. She held a cup of coffee, taking occasional sips. A faint smile often played on her lips, giving her an air of unshakeable confidence. Suddenly, her movements stopped, and she placed her coffee on the table. Pointing to a betting slip on her tablet, she questioned a subordinate standing by, "What's going on with this round? Over 400 million in chips for this single match alone? Did the bettors bet 320 million on Dog Number 2? Are those idiots blind! Do they think my trained fighting dog is inferior to that mongrel?"
The Third Mistress wasn't oblivious to money. Otherwise, she wouldn't be withholding payments. As the behind-the-scenes owner, she knew the daily revenue of each arena. A single round with bets exceeding 400 million was unprecedented.
"No, no, you misunderstand," the subordinate quickly bowed and explained. "Most bettors have faith in your abilities. It's just one guest who bet a full 300 million. That's why it appears..."
"Who is so blind?" the Third Mistress asked coldly.
The subordinate pressed a remote, skillfully switching between real-time surveillance feeds of each arena. The screen finally locked, and the subordinate said, "It's these two people."
The Third Mistress looked, her eyebrows rising slightly. "Jiang Rou? She... Hahahaha!" Seeing Jiang Rou on the monitor, the Third Mistress burst into laughter. The long, slender eyebrows formed a beautiful arc, indicating her current joy. "I never expected this girl to be so endearingly foolish! She couldn't collect her debt, so she's trying to win the money back from me this way? Hmph! Then I'll let her lose it all!"
The Third Mistress snorted, then her gaze fell upon the young man beside Jiang Rou. Although she was puzzled why Li Chong wasn't with Jiang Rou, but a new face she didn't recognize, she didn't pay much mind.
With a 300 million bet placed, both Song Qiao and Jiang Rou believed the Third Mistress was now secretly watching them. However, Song Qiao remained unconcerned, waiting outside the dog fighting arena for the match to officially begin.
The 10-minute betting period quickly ended. After the bookmakers closed the bets, another gong sounded! *Clang!* As the announcer declared the start of the match, the doors of two massive iron cages were directly facing the entrance to the dog fighting arena. *Shriiii!* Both cages opened simultaneously. The black dog, indeed, appeared highly experienced. Before the cage even opened, its hind legs had already powered up, firmly bracing against the thick iron bars at the bottom of the cage. It used the cage bars as a starting point! The moment the cage opened, it shot out like a coiled spring unleashed, ferociously charging towards the yellow dog opposite! This demonstrated its immense experience.
*Tap, tap, tap!* Its four paws struck the ground with a rhythmic sound, like a dense drumbeat. Especially as it ran, its long fur whipped wildly in the wind, making the dog look majestic! *Aooooo!* A yelp was heard, and the yellow dog was immediately caught off guard! It hadn't even had time to react before the black dog slammed into it, sending it flying into the adjacent fence. It was at a disadvantage right from the start of the match! The surrounding bettors were thrilled, cheering it on.
"Good!"
"Incredible, a true veteran!"
"Go on! Take it down in one bite!"
Listening to the thunderous cheers, Jiang Rou felt increasingly uncertain. It was natural; anyone seeing the black dog's momentum would feel sorry for its opponent. However, in the next moment, the yellow dog suddenly counterattacked. It quickly got up, shook its fur, and lunged towards the black dog, snapping at it!